Register Your Youth Band for the 2026 Youth Champs

Brass Bands England has announced that the registration for the 2026 National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Youth Champs) is now open.

The event will take place on Saturday 28th March 2026 at King Edward's School, Birmingham and is open to youth bands of all levels, from first-time performers to leading youth ensembles. With over 1,200 young players taking part annually, Youth Champs continues to shape the future of brass banding - offering youth bands the chance to perform, connect and be inspired.

Four Sections - One Epic Day

Youth Champs offers four Section options to suit bands at every stage of their journey:

• Showcase Section - celebrating participation, creativity and development

• Performance Section - supportive, low-pressure environment for bands new to contesting

• Showcase Section - aimed at ambitious ensembles aspiring to Championship level in future years

• Championship Section - spotlighting the very best in youth banding

The highest placed English band will represent England at the 2027 European Brass Band Championships.

Off to Neverland

The Championship Section's set test piece for 2026, is Neverland by Christopher Bond. This captivating work was commissioned and premiered by the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 2013 and perfectly combines musical storytelling with the technical and expressive demands ideal for youth bands.

Entry Can Cost You Nothing

The entry fee for bands is £100, unless the band is a BBE Member then the fee is £50. Through BBE's Band Ticket Boost Scheme, member bands can earn back their entry fee entirely by distributing audience tickets to their supporter network.

Register Your Band Now

Registration closes on Monday 1st December 2025 - 4pm

Prospective participant bands can now download the Pre-Entry Pack, which gives an overview of how Youth Champs works and what to expect on the day. The pack and registration link can be found on BBE's Youth Champs information page.

Still Accepting Adjudicator Applications

Looking to get in to adjudicating, but haven't much experience or embarked on the adjudicator programme? Apply to be an adjudicator at the 2026 Youth Champs - find out more here or apply here.